AB0707 PREDICTIVE FACTORS OF RELAPSE IN GIANT CELL ARTERITIS TREATED WITH TOCILIZUMAB
Authors: A. Herrero-Morant, J. Loricera, I. Ferraz-Amaro, S. Castañeda, C. Moriano, J. Narváez, V. Aldasoro, O. Maiz, R. Melero, I. Villa-Blanco, P. Vela-Casasempere, S. Romero-Yuste, J. L. Callejas-Rubio, E. De Miguel, E. Galíndez-Agirregoikoa, F. Sivera, C. Fernández-López, C. Galisteo, J. Sanchez-Martin, M. Calderón-Goercke, L. Sanchez-Bilbao, J. L. Hernández, R. Blanco
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2023)

<h3>Background</h3> Tocilizumab (TCZ) is the only biologic therapy approved for giant cell arteritis (GCA). Clinical trials with TCZ in GCA was performed with intravenous (iv) TCZ in a phase 2 trial <b>[1]</b>, and with subcutaneous (sc) TCZ in the phase 3 GiACTA <b>[2].</b> There is general agreement on the initial/maintenance dose, but duration of TCZ therapy is not well established. In GiACTA trial, after one year on TCZ, most patients had GCA relapse after withdrawal. <h3>Objectives</h3> To assess the predictive factors of relapse in GCA in a clinical practice scenario. <h3>Methods</h3> Multicentre observational study of 471 patients with GCA. The diagnosis of GCA was performed between 2016 and 2021 according to: <b>a</b>) ACR criteria, and/or <b>b</b>) temporal artery biopsy, and/or <b>c</b>) imaging techniques. Relapse was defined according to EULAR consensus definition <b>[3].</b> From the 471 patients, we selected the patients who had available the data on relapse during follow-up. Multivariable study was conducted to identify the best set of predictors for the appearance of a relapse. <h3>Results</h3> GCA relapses were observed in 63 of 405 (15%) patients for whom such data was available <b>(Table 1).</b> No significant differences were observed between the two groups in demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics or in prednisone dose at initiation of TCZ. The set of variables associated with GCA relapses were prior use of synthetic conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (scDMARDs), use of iv.TCZ, shorter time on TCZ therapy and optimization of TCZ dose <b>(Figure 1).</b> <h3>Conclusion</h3> GCA relapse seems related mainly to TCZ schedule and was associated with iv TCZ, and a shorter treatment time and optimization. <h3>References</h3> [1]Villiger PM, et al. Lancet. 2016. PMID: 26952547 [2]Stone JH, et al. N Engl J Med. 2017. PMID: 28745999 [3]Hellmich B, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2020. PMID: 31270110 <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> NIL. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> Alba Herrero-Morant: None declared, J. Loricera Speakers bureau: Roche, Novartis, UCB Pharma, MSD, Celgene, and Grünenthal, Iván Ferraz-Amaro: None declared, Santos Castañeda: None declared, Clara Moriano: None declared, J. Narváez: None declared, Vicente Aldasoro: None declared, Olga Maiz: None declared, Rafael Melero: None declared, Ignacio Villa-Blanco: None declared, Paloma Vela-Casasempere: None declared, Susana Romero-Yuste: None declared, Jose Luis Callejas-Rubio: None declared, Eugenio de Miguel: None declared, E. Galíndez-Agirregoikoa Speakers bureau: Celgene, AbbVie, Pfizer, Roche, Lilly, MSD, Janssen, and Bristol, Francisca Sivera: None declared, Carlos Fernández-López: None declared, Carles Galisteo: None declared, Julio Sanchez-Martin: None declared, Monica Calderón-Goercke: None declared, Lara Sanchez-Bilbao: None declared, J. Luis Hernández: None declared, Ricardo Blanco Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Pfizer, Roche, Lilly, Bristol-Myers, Janssen, Galapagos and MSD, Consultant of: Abbvie, Pfizer, Roche, Lilly, Bristol-Myers, Janssen and MSD, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, MSD, Novartis and Roche.